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Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Adam Sandler in Reign Over Me

As a child I always thought Adam
Sandler films were a work of comedy genius. Watching films like Billy Madison, Happy
Gilmore, Mr Deeds or even 50 First Dates these to me as a child and still today
makes me laugh. With these types of films people always see him as the funny
actor. Watching so many of his films no matter how awful they can be there was
one film that I really thought that would change his career as a funny guy
actor to a somewhat mediocre actor. Just like how Jim Carrey wanted to show the
world that he can be a serious actor. By doing films like; The Truman Show or Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind these two timeless films are a perfect example of
when funny actors go serious. Reign Over Me directed by Mike
Binder staring Adam Sandler as the 911 widow Charlie Finemen and his old
college roommate Don Cheadle as Alan Johnson. The film tells the story men who
lost his entire family in 911 run into each other and befriend each other once
again after many years. Their old found friendship help each other deal with
one and others problems. What makes this films so great its not your typical
911 film. Some people don’t even realize that Reign Over Me is a 911 film, even
though the film doesn't dwell on the actual events of the day. The film focuses
on the people that lost their loved of that tragic day and Charlie being one of
those victims. Reign Over me is a wonderful story of two friends finding each
other and being there.

Adam Sandler (Charlie Finemen)

Charlie’s character is the
perfect example of someone with post dramatic stress. Continuously playing
video games and losing himself in this world. Playing “Shadow of Colossus” is
his way of escaping the real world. The constant redoing of his kitchen is the
never letting go faze between him and his wife. He promised his wife he would
finish the kitchen but they never did. Usually
when someone loses someone dear to them they can never let go and in this case
the only thing holding Charlie’s character to his wife is the kitchen. By finishing
the kitchen he psychologically acknowledges her death. The soundtrack of the
film is whatever Charlie listened to in his headphones. I can see that Mike
Binder wanted the audience to listen to the same music that Charlie was
listening to. To hide the outside world Charlie would put on his headphones and
listen to what’s on his iPod. This is a fantastic way of making the audience
connect with Charlie because by hiding the outside world and being in Charlie’s
music we are subconsciously entering in “Charlie World”

Charlie Finemen & Alan Johnson

Charlie’s and Alan’s friendship
is seen as if their college days have never passed even though Charlie has
become a withdrawn shadow of his former self. Be that as it may they both have
their moments of; Riding double on a scooters, late night jamming sessions,
walking late on the streets of New York and video games. The core of their
friendship is simply just hanging out even though Charlie is a very emotionally
destroyed person and that’s what I really do admire about Reign Over Me. The very
soul of the film it’s just about two guys who don’t have anyone to talk apart
from each other. As the film carries on
and we see more and more of Charlie breaking down but their relationship is
always the same. Alan doesn’t talk about Charlie’s problem but instead just
have their typical guy talk. For me those scenes when it’s just Charlie and Alan
are the most connecting scenes to the two characters. In one scene we see
Charlie have a total break down and the next scene is Alan and Charlie having Chinese
together and Alan changes the subject and talk about how his wife doesn’t give
him his space. What’s so great about the two characters is that Alan who is
seen as a successful dentist and family man who has no friends and no hobby
when Charlie who has nothing apart from his hobbies. The relationship between
both characters is seen as a life line for each other. This film really just
show the importance of a good friend and to be a good friend you don’t have to
be there to hold them but just hang out and keep each other company.